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Podocarpus macrophyllus

 
Podocarpus macrophyllus

Common name yew plum pine; buddhist pine
Family podocarpaceae
Life cycle tree (Z7-9)
Flowers none
Size 20-40'
Light sun-part shade
Cultural notes ordinary garden soil

Evergreen tree or shrub with broad lax needles, native to mountainous areas of eastern Asia. Although it is classified as a conifer, its fruit, like those of yews, are fleshy like berries. In the landscape it is often used as a hedge. We bought ours as an unidentified plant at a nursery that seldom labels its plants and has a dearth of knowledgeable staff (I hate that!), attracted by what appeared to me to be buds promising a display of flowers – but I was actually looking at the immature fruit. Although with the help of the internet forums I was able to identify this as podocarpus, I can't be sure about the species or variety – could be a dwarf, or could be the tall-growing species. Only time will tell.
Post-script: time will not tell – it died by late summer, following a period of progressive decline. I have no idea what ailed it.

yew plum pine; buddhist pine
Cone-berries

This plant used to grow in our garden, but it slipped away...

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